Join us to delve into the lives and music of two titans of opera, Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner, at Deloitte Ignite this weekend (15 and 16 September). There are many ways to join us; whether you come to the ROH in person or watch from another country.

From the passionate romance of La traviata to the vast mythical world of the Ring cycle, Guiseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner are undoubtedly two of the greatest opera composers of the 19th century. Although equal in stature, their work demonstrates very different perspectives on art and culture. Verdi’s music includes some of opera's most popular melodies and is felt by some to encompass both high and low culture, while Wagner’s epic compositions are considered by advocates to mark the peak of technical and intellectual genius.

Award-winning writers and cultural commentators Norman Lebrecht and Philip Hensher each championed one of the composers, illustrating their points with musical extracts performed by Southbank Sinfonia with conductor Paul Wynne-Griffiths.